Housing for radio indicators or the like



June 25, 1929. H. J. KASCH HOUSING FOR RADIO INDICATORS OR THE LIKE Filed June 18, 1926 Patented June 25, 1929.\

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HENRY tl'. KASCH, DAYTON, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO THE KURZ-KASCH COMPANY, OF DAYTON, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIO.

HOUSING FOR RADIO INDICATORS OR THE LIKE.

Application filed June 18, 1926. Serial No. 116,888.

My invention relates to rotary indicators and more particularly to a protective housing or mask for a rotary dial, such as is employed upon radio receiving and sending apparatus and the like.

Tn the present invention there is contemplated a plaque which may be of moreor less ornamental shape and design and which is recessed or concaved upon its rear side. The plaque is stationarily secured to the panel of a radio receiving set or the like in position to overlie and enclose the usual rotary dial pertaining to and controlling an adjustable tuning instrument. The housing or plaque 1s provided with a marginal rearwardly extending flange which forms an enclosing chamber for the dail, while the center portion of the plaque is bulged forwardly into a substantially semi-spherical dome whlch completely encloses the central boss or hub of the dial and its shaft connection. There is no portion of the dial or the shaft upon which it is mounted which extends beyond the face of the housing or plaque, and no portion of the dial or its mounting is visible except a very limited portion of the margin of the dial bearing graduations which may be observed through a small window or observation opening at the top of the housing. The margins of this observation opening are beveled on its sides at an acute degree with the plane of the dial. The lower margin of the beveled opening is inclined in opposite directions from its middle at which point appears a gage line co-operating with the graduations upon the portion of the rotary dial visible through such observation opening. The acute inclination of the beveled margin of the opening "with the plane of the dial gives to the gage mark upon such beveled margin the appearance of being a continuation of the gradua- I tion upon the dial. The beveled surface bearing the gage mark and the face of the dial visible through the opening bearing the grad- 4,3 nations are presented in a substantially equalized angular relationship with the line of Vision of the observer. The line of vision of the observer bisects the angle formed by the beveled margin of the observation opening and the face of the rotary dial. This greatly facilitates the registering of graduations upon the dial with such gage mark and the gage mark does not have the appearance of changing its relation with the selected graduation when viewed from different positions as is the case when the gage mark is carried upon a surface spaced away from the face of the dial. At the lower portion of the plaque or housing is provided an adjusting knob having frictional engagement with the periphery of the dial. By rotation of such knob the dial is adjusted to and fro to brin different graduations into registry with the gage mark upon the beveled margin of the observation opening.

The object of invention is to provide a housing or mask for the dial of a radio apparatus or the like which will completely enclose and protect the dial, and which will have no protrudingportions but will present a uniform continuous exterior surface.

A further object of the invention is to provide in such a protecting housing or enclosure for. the dial an observation opening arranged as to present the gage mark in close associat1on with the dial graduation and produce the appearance of a continuation of the graduat1on mark on the margin of the observation space when the gage mark and the selected graduation are registering.

A further object of invention is to provide for adjusting the enclosed radio dial. TVith the above primary and other incidental obects in view as Wlll more fully appear in the specification the invention consists of the features of invention, the parts and coinbinations thereof, and the mode of operation, or their equivalent, as hereinafter described and set forth in the claims.

In the accompanying drawing wherein is shown the preferred but obviously not necessarily the only form of embodiment of invention, Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional view of an indicator dial and the protecting housing or mask forming the subject matter hereof in its assembled relation with the dial. Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the housing or mask through the observation space of which a portion of the dial graduation appears. Fig. 3 is a rear elevation of the housing or mask showing the dial partly broken away. Fig. 4 is a diagrammatic view illustrating the angular relation of the beveled margin of the observation opening and the plane of the disc to the line of vision of the observer. Fig. 5 illustrates the preferred form of spring for the actuating device.

Like parts are indicated by similar characters of reference throughout the several views.

In the drawings 1 indicates the usual rotary indicator dial having at center a forwardly protecting boss or hub 2 within wh ch is located a split clutch sleeve 3 for engaging the dial 1 with the rotary shaft of a radio tuning instrument or other device. The rotary disc 1 carries about its periphery a series of graduations 4, as shown in Fig. 2.

Over-lying and completely enclosing the dial 1 is a recessed plaque or housing 5 formed with a rearwardly extending marginal flange 6, forming a chamber 7 within which the dial 1 is contained. The marginal flange abuts upon the face of the mounting panel} of the radio set to which it is secured by reai'wardly extending studs 8 embedded in the plaque or housing 5 and extending through properly spaced holes in the mounting panel indicated by dotted lines at 9 in Fig. 1. The plaque or housing is stationarily secured upon the mounting panel, while the disc or dial 1 is free to rotate within the interior chamber 7 of the housing.

The plaque or housing 5 may be of any shape or design to form a pleasing appearance. Merely for the purpose of illustration and with no intent to limit the invention to the particular shape or design illustrated the plaque or housing has been shown in the pres ent instance as of a substantially shield shape, having a marginal bead within which or purpose of ornamentation is provided an annular area having a stippled or mat surface. The central area of the plaque or housing is bulged forwardly to afford a substantially semi-spherical dome 10, which accommodates and completely encloses and conceals the central hub or boss 2 of the dial and its shaft connections.

The plaque or housing thus presents a uniform continuous exterior surface beyond which no portion of the dial or its mounting extends- It thus protects the dial and the connection of the dial with the shaft not only against damage or breakage and change of adjustment of the dial upon the shaft but it also prevents any incidental change of the adjustment of the dial as is likely to occur when the hub of the dial or a knob is exposed on the face of the housing or mask or projects there beyond. This complete enclosure of the dial and its mounting connection with the shaft is considered quite desirable.

At the top of the housing or mask 5 there is provided an observation opening 11, the margins of which are inclined or beveled at i an acute degree in relation with the plane of the dial 1. Through this observation opening 11 the graduations 4.- on the face of the dial 1 are visible as the dial is rotated to and fro. The lower margin of the observation opening is inclined transversely from its medial line.upon which appears a gage mark 12. The beveled or inclined relations of the margin of the observation spaceto the face of the dial 1 and the location of the gage mark12 on the crown of the oppositely 1nclined contour positions the gage mark 12 in such close association with the selected graduation 4, as to give the gage mark the appearance of being a continuation of such graduation mark. The acute angular relation'of the surface bearin the gage mark 12 with the plane of the dia 1 is such that the graduation mark 4 upon the dial and the gage mark- 12 on such beveled margin of the observation opening presents these marks in an equalized angular relation with the normal line of vision of the observer as indicated in the diagrammatical view Fig. 4 the relative angular relation of the graduation marks 4 and the gage mark 12 u on their res ctive bearing surfaces is such that the line 0 vision of the observer substantially bisects such angle. This relation greatly facilitates the accurate adjustment of the dial and close registry of selected graduation marks 4 thereon with the gage mark 12, and renders the reading of such indications quite easy. The angular relation of the gage mark 12 to the plane of the graduations 4 and its close up proach thereto, obviates the appearance of the gage mark shifting to and fro in relation with the graduations when viewed from different positions, as is so evident when the gage mark is upon a surface spaced away from the face of the dial.

In order to rotate the dial 1 within the housing 5 there is provided at the lower portion of the mask or housing an adjusting knob 13, revoluble upon and surrounding a forwardly projecting hollow boss 14 formed upon the face of the housing or mask 5. The bore of this boss 14 is inwardly flared in vertical directions as shown at 15. The outer portion of the boss 14 is of true circular form and affords a bearing for a rotary .stud 16 embedded in the adjusting knob 13. This stud 16 is provided at its inner end with a peripheral groove 17 the sides of which converge inwardly. The dial 1 engages in the peripheral groove 17 at one side of the stud 16, while a bow spring 18 engages within the same groove at the opposite side of the stud. The bow spring 18 is maintained under tension with its ends resting upon the marginal flange 6, at the opposite side of the stud 16. By its reaction it tends to press the stud 16 upwardly against the periphery of the dial. The-flange 6 is provided with stop shoulders 19 upon which the ends of the spring 18 abut to prevent its displacement. The vertical flare or enlargement 15 of the bore within the hub 14 permits a slight vertical tilting adjustment of the stud in the supporting and bearing boss 14.

lVhile the housing or mask 5 may be formed from any sultable material such as a sheet metal stamping or molded from fibre, pulp, hard rubber or the like, the preferred material is phenolic condensation material. Such phenolic condensation material is not only cheaply and economically molded, but it affords a fine polished surface of pleasing appearance and may be produced in various colors, and with ornamental surface markings or imitation wood graining. Furthermore, such phenolic condensation material is quite light in weight, yet strong and durable and afl'ords ample protection to the enclosed dial. The imperforate dome-shaped central area of the housing by which the central hub portion of the dial and its mounting are completely enclosed and concealed and the arrangement of the beveled observation opening by which the gage mark and graduations are presented in closely associated acute angular relation to facilitate the registering and reading of the indications, are considered quite advantageous features of this structure. It is recognized that the vernier adjustment of the dial by means of the knob 13 and stud 16 frictionally engaging the periphery of the dial under the influence of a bow spring is not broadly new, although the present construction involves improvements pertaining; to this form of adjustment.

While the application of the spring shown in Fig. 3 is quite satisfactory and extensively used, the type of spring illustrated in Fig. 5 is to be preferred. This spring 18 is formed from flat stock and is of substantially heart shaped contour. The friction drive stem or stud 16 rests in a reentrant bight formed at the top of the spring body on opposite sides of which extend bights or lobes of the spring. The ends of the spring 18 are separated from each other by an interposed lug upon the interior of the marginal flange 6, which forms spaced stop shoulders 19' against which the ends of the spring abut.

This type of spring possesses more resiliency and uniformity of action than the wire bow spring shown in Fig. 3. By forming the spring of substantially heart shape as shown in Fig. 5 a much greater length of spring material may be employed. Further, the re sistance to tilting action of the actuating stud is not so great and its engagement with the dial is facilitated by the use of this form of spring. There is also less tendency forthe spring to become displaced from its engagementwith the mounting.

From the above description it will be apparent that there is thus provided a device of the character described possessingthe particular features of advantage before enumerated as desirable. but which obviously is susceptible of modification in its form, proportion, detail construction and arrangement of'parts without departure from the principle involved or sacrificing any of its advantages.

While in order to comply with the statute the invention has been described in language more or less specific as to structural features,

it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the specific details shown, but that the means and construction herein disclosed comprises the preferred form of several modes of putting the invention into efi'ect and the invention is therefore claimed in any of its forms or modifications within the legitimate and valid scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described by invention I claim 1. In a housing for an indicator dial, a plaque having a rearwardly extending marginal flange forming in the rear of the plaque a chamber within which the dial rotates, and an imperforate substantially semi-spherical dome comprising the central area of the plaque to com 'letcly enclose and conceal the hub-portion o the dial and its mounting, said plaque having therein an observation opening through which a portion of the dial may be observed and means exteriorly of the housing for rotating the dial within its chamber.

2. As an article of manufacture, a housing for an indicator dial comprising a plaque the rear face of which is recessed to afford a dial receiving chamber, and including a forwardly bulged imperforate central area. to accommodate the hub portion of the dial and its mounting, said bulging area presenting a substantially continuous unbroken surface, an observation opening in the plaque for observation of the dial and means for rotating the dial within its chamber.

3. As an article of manufacture, a mask for an indicator dial having therein a recess within which the dial is revolubly mounted independently of the mask, the face of the mask overlying t-he dial being imperforate, except for the provision of an observation opening in registry with the marginal portion of the dial, through which graduations upon the dial may be read, and a projecting hub formed adjacent to the margin of said mask in which to mount means for rotating the dial within the housing.

4. As an article of manufacture, a housing for an indicator dial, comprising a mask overlying the dial and having therein an observation opening through which graduations upon the dial may be observed, said dial and mask being mounted wholly independent of each other, the mask being otherwise imperforate over the dial and its mounting whereby the dial and its mounting are completely enclosed and concealed from View, and means for rotating the dial behind the mask.

5. As an article of manufacture a housing for an indicator dial comprising a fixed mask overlying a revoluble dial, said mask and dial being independently mounted and said mask having an observation opening therein through which graduations upon the dial may be observed, the central portion of the mask being imperforate and bulged fo'rward- 1y to form a dome for the accommodation of through which graduations upon the dial may be observed, the lower margin of the opening being beveled at an acute degree of inclination to the plane of the dial, said lower margin of the opening being further inclined downwardly and laterally from its middle, said margin bearing a gage mark at the intersection of such inclinedsurfaces, and the dial having thereon graduation marks for registry with said gage mark, and means for rotating the dial.

7. As an article of manufacture, a mask for an indicator dial overlying the dial and having therein an observation opening, the margins of the opening being beveled at an acute degree of inclination to the plane of the dial and approaching quite closely to the face of the dial, a gage mark upon the beveled margin of the opening and graduation marks upon the face of the dial for registry with the gage mark, said marks possessing the appearance of continuity when in registry due to their acute degree of inclination, and close approach, and means for rotating the dial.

8. As an article of manufacture, a mask for an indicator dial having therein an observation opening, the margin of which is beveled at such degree as to present its beveled surface in approximately the same angular relation with the line of vision of the observer as the plane of the dial, said beveled surface extending into close proximity to the face of the dial and having thereon a gage mark, said dial having upon its face a series of graduations for registry with the gage mark.

9. As an article of manufacture, a mask for an indicator dial having therein an ob: servation opening, the margin of which is of reent-rant convex form and inclined toward the face of the dial, the crown of such convex beveled margin having thereon a gage mark and the face of the dial bearing a series of graduation marks for registry with the gage mark.

10. As an'article of manufacture, a mask for an indicator dial having therein an observation opening through which graduations upon the face of the dial may be observed, characterized by a hollow boss proJeciing from the front of the mask, said boss having a substantially cylindrical bore adjacent to its outer extremity, the bore of the boss being flared inwardly in a vertical direction, a revoluble stud journaled in said boss and capable of limited vertical tilting movement within the flared portion of the bore, said stud having a peripheral groove the sides of which are convergent and a comparatively acute degree, within which groove the pe riphery of the dial is frictionally engaged,

to enable the rotation of the dial by the retation of said stud.

l1. As an article of manufacture, a marinally flanged mask for an indicator dial, having therein an observation opening through which graduations upon the face of the dial may be observed characterized by a rotary actuating stud journaled in said mask and having operative engagement with the periphery of the dial to transmit thereto rotary movement by the rotation of the stud, a bow spring pressing the actuating stud into engagement with the periphery of the dial,

the ends of such bow spring restin upon the interior sides of the marginal tango, and shoulders formed upon the interior of such marginal flange against which the ends of the bow spring abut to prevent its displacement.

12. As an article of manufacture, a housing for an indicator dial comprising a plaque to overlie and enclose the dial, a rearwardly extending marginal flange upon the plaque forming a receiving chamber for the dial an observation opening in said plaque through which graduations upon the dial may be observed, the margin of the dial opening being and beveled at an acute degree of inclination to the plane of the dial, a gage mark upon the crown of such reentrant convex beveled margin, said dial having thereon a series of graduations for registry with said gage mark, the dial graduations and gage mark being presented in substantially equalized angular relation with the normal line of vision of an observer whereby said marks will be given the appearance of continuity, an imperforate dome formed at the center of the plaque enclosing the hub and mounting connections of the dial and a forwardly projecting hollow boss on the lower portion of the plaque, to receive an adjusting knob and having operative engagement with the periphery of the dial.

13. As an article of manufacture, a mask for an indicator dial overlying the dial and having therein an observation opening through which graduations upon the dial may be observed, the lower margin of the opening being beveled at an acute degree of inclination to the plane of the dial, whereby the beveled margin of the observation opening and the plane of the dial are disposed in substantially equal angular relation with the line of vision of an observer which substantially bisects the angle formed by such beveled margin and the plane of the dial, said beveled margin having a gage mark thereon, and said dial having graduation marks thereon for registry with said gage mark, the rela tive inclination of the beveled margin of the observation opening and the face of the dial giving to such mark the appearance of con tinuity when in registry.

14. As an article of manufacture, a mask for an indicator dial overlying the dial and having therein an observation opening through which graduations upon the face of the dial may be observed, characterized by a hollow boss projecting from the front face of the mask, a rotaryknob having a socket therein within which the hollow boss extends, said knob exteriorly surrounding the hollow boss and revoluble thereabout, a stud carried by the knob and projecting within the interior of the hollow boss into operating engagement with the periphery of the dial, to rotate said dial by the rotation of the knob.

15. A housing for a radio dial or the like of the kind comprising a mask overlying the dial having an observation opening therein through which graduations upon the dial may be observed, and being associated with means for rotating the dial located behind such mask, characterized in that said mask completely conceals the mounting of the dial from view and is entirely independent of such mounting.

16. A housing as claimed in claim 15 characterized in that said mask is provided with a substantially. semi-spherical dome formed by bulging forwardly the central area of the mask, such dome being imperforate and preferably presenting a substantially continuous unbroken surface. I

17. A housing as claimed in claim 15 in which a gauge mark is provided on a beveled margin of the observation opening, characterized in that said mark is provided on the lower margin of such opening, such lower margin being further inclined downwardly and laterally from said mark which is preferably located in the middle thereof, to the lower outer corners of said opening.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this 10th day of June, A. D. 1926.

HENRY J. KASGH. 

